Media Center and iTV application: Lots of promise but don’t get your hopes up

Nial Ginsbrough has been taking a look at the Media Center SDK for the beta build of Windows 7 and has picked up on the update iTV framework (internet TV) in Media Center. This framework allows for applications to be closely tied to the broadcast content, Nial picks out some interesting scenarios:

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  • Enhancing existing Programs – multiple camera views, chat with other viewers, highlights, polls, commentary etc.
  • Video On Demand – which can be linked to live broadcast content (replays/highlights/voting etc) – or trigger pay per view and on demand services.
  • Overlays – non interactive content that is added to existing broadcast.
  • Interaction with TV Program – such as getting additional information on what you are watching (ie. cast/crew/reviews/community ratings etc).
  • Interaction with TV Content – Viewing Trailers, triggering Series Recording, IM and VOIP and more..

This looks very interesting and has some fantastic possibilities, imagine watching the Formula One (or insert your own favourite sport here) and picking the onboard camera, on demand replays and getting timing data (much like the Kangaroo handset I used at Silverstone) this would be great, if only the content providers would create it these kind of application. Nial says the way the framework is implemented it needs the broadcasters to work on the project means that the average 3rd party developer will not be able to develop these kind of application: “it needs to be triggered via either data being transmitted on the Tuner Source (ie. ‘tags’ which are broadcast by the provider at predefined moments) – or via the Headend (which I assume is referring to the source of your EPG data)”

Have a look at Nial’s post to find out the details

Like Nial says I am sure the US will get some iTV content in Media Center but I will be surprised if there is anything for the UK (in the beta the sports strip and all the Internet TV content is missing). I just can’t see content creators going to the trouble of of developing special application just for Media Center unless there is a easy way to reuse existing developments (like the BBC’s existing Red Button apps), having said that now the BBC has the F1 coverage and they have experimented with Media Center apps in the past you never know..